After more than a year of diligent, exclusive negotiations, St. Louis-based SSM Health and Columbia-based MU Health Care have mutually agreed to allow their Letter of Intent (LOI) to transfer ownership of SSM Health’s ministries in Jefferson City and Mexico, Missouri, to expire, effective Jan. 7, 2020.

Discussions with MU Health Care will continue as SSM Health broadens the scope of its search for a partner that will help maintain the availability of high-quality care in these communities. The Catholic, not-for-profit’s presence in mid-Missouri includes SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital - Jefferson City and SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital - Audrain, as well as outpatient and medical group locations throughout the region.

“Although we expect to be having conversations with other organizations who we believe can benefit these communities, we continue to view MU Health Care as a valuable potential partner,” said Laura S. Kaiser, FACHE, President/CEO of SSM Health. “We remain committed to exploring opportunities to work together to improve access to high-quality affordable health care services for the people we serve.”

MU Health Care CEO Jonathan Curtright agreed that valuable relationships have been built around shared objectives over the past months of negotiation.

“We continue to value the voices of community support for our shared goal to create an outstanding and sustainable health care model that provides quality care and support to patients, employees, physicians and communities across Missouri,” said Curtright. “While we are disappointed that our exclusive negotiations with SSM Health are ending, we value the relationships we have built and look forward to continued discussions.”